Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in IL8 and TLR4 Genes as Candidates for Digital Dermatitis Resistance/Susceptibility in Holstein Cattle

Relatedness between single nucleotide polymorphisms in IL8 and TLR4 genes and digital dermatitis resistance/susceptibility was investigated in seventy Holstein dairy cows. Animals were assigned into two groups, affected group (n?=?35) and resistant group (n?=?35) based on clinical signs and previous history of farm clinical records. Blood samples were collected for DNA extraction to ampliy fragments of 267-bp and 382-bp for IL8 and TLR4 genes, respectively. PCR-DNA sequencing revealed three SNPs in each of IL8 and TLR4 genes. The identified SNPs associated with digital dermatitis resistance were C94T, A220G, and T262A for IL8 and C118T for TLR4. However, the G349C and C355A SNPs in TLR4 gene were associated with digital dermatitis susceptibility. Chi-square analysis for comparison the distribution of all identified SNPs in both IL8 and TLR4 genes between resistant and affected animals showed no significant variation among the identified SNPs in IL8 gene. Meanwhile, there was a significant variation in case of TLR4 gene. As a pilot study, the present results revealed that identified SNPs in IL8 and TLR4 genes can be used as a genetic marker and predisposing factor for resistance/susceptibility to digital dermatitis in dairy cows. However, TLR4 gene may be a potential candidate for such disease.     

Secretion of the dufour glands of two african desert ants, Camponotus aegyptiacus and Cataglyphis savignyi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Dufour glands of minor workers of Camponotus aegyptiacus contain a mixture of linear and methyl branched hydrocarbons and a trace of dodecyl acetate. Major workers contain a similar mixture of hydrocarbons but also large quantities of dodecyl acetate, some other long chain acetates and traces of propionates and farnesyl acetate. Cataglyphis savignyi has pentadecane as the most abundant compound with traces of ketones, alcohols and an aldehyde. Camponotus vagus, a Mediterranean species, has a more typical formicine mixture with undecane being the major compound. A summary of Camponotus Dufour substances demonstrates the species-specificity of this secretion.     

Effect of Reciprocal Bud-Graft Transfers Between Old Home and Bartlett Pears and Centrifugatiou on Trans-location of Endogenous Growth Substances in Hardwood Cuttings

An investigation was made of the effect of bud-graft exchanges between two pear varieties—the easily-rooted Old Home and the hard-to-root Bartlett—on the root-promoting activity of extracts obtained from basal segments of hardwood cuttings of each variety. The effect of a centrifugal force obtained from 2000 rpm for 30 minutes on the root-promoting activity of diffusates and extracts from bases of centrifuged cuttings of these two varieties was also studied. Bud exchange treatments showed no appreciable influence on the root-promoting or inhibiting activity of basal extracts unless the transbudded shoots (used for making cuttings) were girdled one month prior to the sampling date; in such cases an influence did appear. The centrifugation treatment increased the number of buds sprouting on cuttings. It also increased the root-promoting activity of extracts from the basal parts of cuttings and of their growth-active components (separated by paper chromalography) when bioassayed by the mung bean rooting test. Apparently some inhibitory materials from the buds were removed through the bases of the cuttings by centrifuging.     

Identification of Salmonella enteritidis outer membrane proteins expressed during attachment to human intestinal epithelial cells

AIMS: To express and identify the Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis outer membrane proteins that are involved in the attachment to human intestinal epithelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Salmonella Enteritidis attachment proteins were expressed by infection of human intestinal epithelial cells (int-407) with Salm. Enteritidis strain SE28, followed by pulse labelling with [35S]-methionine. Outer membrane proteins were separated by TritonX-114 phase partitioning, and were detected by Salm. Enteritidis-specific polyclonal antibody. Outer membrane proteins of molecular weights 82.3, 75.6, 49.3, 35.5 and 19.3 kDa were newly synthesized. Expression of 31.2 and 16 kDa proteins was up-regulated, whereas the expression of 40.7 kDa protein was down-regulated. Polyclonal antibodies against the 82.3 and 75.6 kDa proteins significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the binding of Salm. Enteritidis to int-407 cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Outer membrane proteins 82.3 and 75.6 kDa are potentially involved in the attachment of Salm. Enteritidis to the intestinal mucosa. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Outer membrane proteins 82.3 and 75.6 kDa identified in this study could be used as potential vaccines to block or reduce Salm. Enteritidis colonization in chickens.     

GidA Expression in Salmonella is Modulated Under Certain Environmental Conditions

Bacillus subtilis endospores have applications in different fields including their use as probiotics and antigen delivery vectors. Such specialized applications frequently require highly purified spore preparations. Nonetheless, quantitative data regarding both yields and purity of B. subtilis endospores after application of different growth conditions and purification methods are scarce or poorly reported. In the present study, we conducted several quantitative and qualitative analyses of growth conditions and purification procedures aiming generation of purified B. subtilis spores. Based on two growth media and different incubations conditions, sporulation frequencies up to 74.2 % and spore concentrations up to 7 × 10⁹ spores/ml were achieved. Application of a simplified spore isolation method, in which samples were incubated with lysozyme and a detergent, resulted in preparations with highly purified spores at the highest yields. The present study represents, therefore, an important contribution for those working with B. subtilis endospores for different biotechnological purposes.     

A preliminary study on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province,Saudi Arabia,with descriptions?of?two?new?species

A preliminary study was carried out on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, south-western part of Saudi Arabia. A total number of 582 species and subspecies (few identified only to the genus level) belonging to 129 families and representing 17 orders were recorded. Two of these species are described as new, namely: Monomorium sarawatensis Sharaf & Aldawood, sp. n. [Formicidae, Hymenoptera] and Anthrax alruqibi El-Hawagry sp. n. [Bombyliidae, Diptera]. Another eight species are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia, namely: Xiphoceriana arabica (Uvarov, 1922) [Pamphagidae, Orthoptera], Pyrgomorpha conica (Olivier, 1791) [Pyrgomorphidae, Orthoptera], Catopsilia florella (Fabricius, 1775) [Pieridae, Lepidoptera], Anthrax chionanthrax (Bezzi, 1926) [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Spogostylum near tripunctatum Pallas in Wiedemann, 1818 [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Cononedys dichromatopa (Bezzi, 1925) [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Mydas sp. [Mydidae, Diptera], and Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, 1758 [Hippoboscidae, Diptera]. Al-Baha Province is divided by huge and steep Rocky Mountains into two main sectors, a lowland coastal plain at the west, known as “Tihama”, and a mountainous area with an elevation of 1500 to 2450 m above sea level at the east, known as “Al-Sarat or Al-Sarah” which form a part of Al-Sarawat Mountains range. Insect species richness in the two sectors (Tihama and Al-Sarah) was compared, and the results showed that each of the two sectors of Al-Baha Province has a unique insect community. The study generally concluded that the insect faunal composition in Al-Baha Province has an Afrotropical flavor, with the Afrotropical elements predominant, and a closer affiliation to the Afrotropical region than to the Palearctic region or the Eremic zone. Consequently, we tend to agree with those biogeographers who consider that parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Al-Baha Province, should be included in the Afrotropical region rather than in the Palaearctic region or the Eremic zone.     

Vegetation zonation along the desert-wetland ecosystem of Taif Highland,Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has no permanent lakes or rivers but has wet meadows, which are desert wetlands temporarily formed due to the seasonal rainfall. This work investigates the environmental variables' impact on the vegetation pattern in the desert-wetland ecosystem in Taif highlands. Forty-one stands were randomly selected representing three main habitats (wet meadows, slopes, and terraces) to study their floristic features and vegetation analysis. A total of 142 species were recorded belonging to 111 genera and 45 families in the desert wetlands of Taif Province. About 64.1% were natural plants, while 25.4% were segetal weeds, 7.7% were aquatic plants, and 2.8% were plants that escaped from cultivation. Therophytes dominated over the other life forms, and mono-regional taxa were the dominant chorotype. Multivariate analysis of the recorded plants produced eight vegetation groups; four of them (A: Potamogeton nodosus-Nasturtium officinale, B: Lemna gibba-Leptochloa fusca, C: Typha domingensis- Xanthium strumarium and D: Conyza stricta- Cyperus longus) represented the wet meadows, while two (E: Acacia gerrardii- Commicarpus plumbagineus and H: Osteospermum vaillantii- Eragrostis Pilosa) for slopes and other two (F: Argemone ochroleuca-Cyperus rotundus and G: Pulicaria undulata- Solanum incanum) for the desert terraces. The vegetation zonation was clear, which started from real aquatic species in the wet meadows passing through mixed vegetation in the slopes and ended with proper xerophytic vegetation in the terraces. Conyza stricta- Cyperus longus community had the highest species diversity, while that of Potamogeton nodosus-Nasturtium officinale had the lowest. The principal component analysis indicated that HCO₃, NO₃, Mg, Cl, Ca, and pH values were the most effective soil variable. The presence of several segetal weeds suggests the alteration of the natural status of the desert-wetland ecosystem, and thus the conservation of these natural habitats becomes urgent.     

Prolonged salt stress alters the ratios of protochlorophyllide spectral forms in dark-grown wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>) and influences chlorophyll <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> accumulation following irradiation

To examine the effects of salt stress on dark-grown wheat (Triticum aestivum), seedlings of the salt-tolerant cultivar Sids 1 and the susceptible cultivar Giza 168 were grown in darkness for 14 days in nutrient solution with and without 200 mM of supplementary salt (100 mM of NaCl and 100 mM of KCl). During this time, we monitored their protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) contents, ratios of photoactive to non-photoactive forms of Pchlide (from 655/633-nm emission ratios in their 77 K fluorescence emission spectra) and (following flash irradiation) ratios of newly formed chlorophyllide (Chlide) to non-photoactive Pchlide. In addition, the accumulation of chlorophyll a in leaf sections was monitored during prolonged (24 h) irradiation. The results depended on the developmental state of the seedlings. However, the salt stress treatment caused marked increases in both Pchlide contents in dark-grown leaves and in Chlide contents following irradiation of leaf sections of both cultivars. The ratio of phototransformable to non-phototransformable Pchlide and the abundance of newly formed Chlide were also increased by the salt stress. Further, leaves of salt-stressed seedlings consistently accumulated more chlorophyll a than leaves of unstressed seedlings when floating on the nutrient solution (with or without supplementary salt) in continuous white light. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that increased levels of the long-wavelength form of Pchlide contribute to protective mechanisms against salt stress.